The longest you have owned any gear?
I have a BT-1 preamp, EQ-1 RIAA equalizer, and 50 watt AMP-1 still in use from 1974. All built by the Quintessence Group from Sacramento. I switch the preamp out with a BT-2 from Audionics of Oregon circa 1980, still sweet! The EQ is especially useful as it was designed around the inflection points on the RIAA record curve. They are in use in my office system, main system is newer stuff. |
Limiting this to items that are "team 1 starters": Rogue Hera preamplifier (now at Hera II status) - almost 9 years now, which seems like an eternity here; I’ve only been seriously at the 2ch game for about 12 years. Next closest would be a Koetsu Onyx at 6 years, which I’ve had recently rebuilt (though technically this now sits behind my new Coralstone). I’ve tried to upgrade away from the Hera twice now -- both times to more expensive and highly review/regarded tube units from more prestigious hifi companies ($10K and $14K list prices) -- and both times I ended up going back to the Hera as my preference (though it’s not without flaws). The Hera was my first true "high-end" 2ch component, and perhaps part of my preference is that its sound truly has become my reference over the years. Maybe I’ll try to upgrade from it again in a couple years, but it’s been a real warrior for me! |
Longest I've owned from the start- Technics SL 23 belt drive (still works for my daughter) I bought used in college in mid 70's. Longest period is Eico tube gear my Dad built at the kitchen table in the 50's when I was a kid- He put speakers in the wall of our living room- no Sheetrock then- plaster & lath construction- came to me when he passed- still works we still enjoy it. |
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Denon DP-60L turntable, several cartridges (Dynavector Ruby, Dynavector Diamond, Ortofon, and a couple more), Sota head amp, and a G.A.S. Thalia II pre-amp - all purchased 1980 from Paul Heath Audio in Chicago. That makes for about 37 years. I have the original boxes and packing materials for the turntable and pre-amp. Better yet - A pair of Avid 103 loudspeakers purchased 1977. That makes for 40 years. I have the original boxes somewhere, but the cardboard has gotten so dry and brittle they are almost unusable. The speakers work fine. |
This little oddity: a vintage 2-outlet isolation transformer manufactured by NCR. That stands for National Cash Register, folks. I acquired it in ’97 from a friend who had done a few mods to it. I gave him a pair of Linn Tukans and he gave me the NCR and 48-feet of van den Hul CS122 speaker cable. To this day I think I got the better part of that deal. The NCR isn’t stout enough to use with amps; just sources like CDPs’, tuners and turntables. Years ago I owned a PS Audio Power Plant Premier re-generator. Initially I had all my components plugged into it but I decided to do an A/B test with my CDP plugged into the PPP and then the NCR. To my shock and dismay the CDP clearly sounded better with the ancient NCR. The PPP is long gone but I have a warm & fuzzy feeling that the NCR will be with me to the very end. |
Simple. Oldest (47 years) - Teac 4070 Auto-reversing Tape Deck. Just had first tuneup. Has always worked, and well. Second Oldest (42 years) - Original Dual 701 Automatic Turntable. Survivor of a shoot-out with my Linn SP12 / Syrinx arm combo. Same mid-range, better bass, acceptable high-end. Third Oldest (38 years) - ARC SP-6a.and Marcof PPA-2 headamp w/Moncrieff mod. Recapped. Noisy controls, but sounds sublime. Retired my 2004 Margules transistorized preamp. |
In a few short months my Wilson Audio Watt speakers will be 30 years old. The serial numbers were so low, I know Dave built these in his garage. Over the years I had the xover upgraded to series 2's, purchased the puppy cabinets, then also upgraded those to series 3. More recently they needed new tweeters, new baffle foam, and new grilles but by and large they are in amazing shape and they still give all of the Wilson "Magic". Numerous cd players, dacs, pre and power amps have moved thru my room, and these speakers have grown and shined with each upgrade in front of it. As I look back and listen, Dave was years ahead of his time. A Wilson Audio product is truly is a lifelong investment! |
I am still using an Adcom GFA 555 in my current home theatre system that i purchased new about 28 years ago. This amp has been incredible throughout the years without having any problems what so ever or needing circuitry upgrades. I also have 2 other Adcom GFA 555 II amps also pretty old still cranking out powerfully in system as well. |
Hi Inna, This system is musical and satisfying. The Avalon progression began with Ascents to Eidelons, later Diamonds and presently Times. A very nice improvement, especially in the lower registers. CAT JL-2 Black Path amp adequately drives the speakers, although my occasional yearning for additional, over-the-top decibels leaves me....yearning for more power. Rarely does the Convergent not deliver. |
I have been an audiogon lurker forever but finally my first post. I still have in my bedroom system a pair of merlin 3 way floorstanding speakers purchased in 1986 for $2200. Since they are about 100 pounds per speaker I have no plans to ever get rid of them. They still sound great but totally different than the vsm's in my main system |
Thank you for the input ROXY54 and RVILLANOVA. I am definitely going to give cornell a ring to see if he is up for the task. I don't mind that he is a hundred miles away. I often drive to phoenix for concerts. I think it would be worth it to get the A-1060 up and running again. Thanks again for the help. |
I still have in use an Ariston RD11S TT that I bought new in 1977 ($280). No arm. First arm was a SME 3009, second was a JH Formula 4, third was a Keith Monks, fourth was a Lustre GST-1 and last (and present) is a Grace 707/ Denon 103 combination. The mat is also from 1977 - a Hiraoka Diskmat SE-22 that I bought new from Harvey Sound (48st NYC) - $20! Still sounds great! I also have more TT's, including a Linn Sondek, though none have been with me as long as the Ariston! |
Both Rega Kyte and RS1 loudspeakers for over a decade each. And these were days when 2 or 3 years were a long time in audio. The Kytes were vivid and RS1s a little more muted but smoother. Within their bandwidth they were at least as good as anything else I'd heard. My Marantz CD 6000ki is getting on for 15 years and I can't imagine why I would get rid of it whilst we both keep working. For me it's a question of satisfaction. That usually happens when things sound balanced and correct in the midrange. Its when you start looking for resolution in the extremes, especially sub 35Hz bass that things can get tricky. |
PS Audio Lambda cd transport purchased new in 1993. Wonderfully musical. Great rhythm. Legendary. I preferred it to my CEC that I purchased some years later and sold. https://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-lambda-cd-transporthttp:// |
In 1978 I bought a Pioneer rig with SPEC 1 & 4 and HPM-150 speakers. I sold it to my brother in 1984. In 2008 I got those speakers back, re-foamed LFs, paired them with old school Kenwood L-07 monos and pre, added a tube DAC and Squeeze Duet and now have a system for a grand that I am extremely happy with. Vintage sometimes gets a bad rap but my stuff works like a charm. |
g_nakamoto: I could not afford the Bose 901's (as I recall) but in 1973 I did buy a Sansui QRX-6500 4-Channel receiver. I remember that I bought it in the Navy Exchange overseas (at a nice discount) for exactly $512.00. In 2018 dollars that is right around $3000.00. My young wife was stunned! To go with it, I bought four huge Sansui SP-3500 speakers. Kept them for about 20 years and then sold them to my brother in law. |
